Korean Job Discussion Forums

[canukteacher]

Has anybody out there worked for English Channel. I met with the Manager and it seems like a good operation. However, I thought the hours were very long for what he was offering. The current ad on the job board says 6 hours a day plus 2 Saturdays a month. I must have misunderstood him when we talked because I thought he told me 8 hour shifts, which meant 176 hours a month when you count the 2 Saturdays. At 6 hours a day it is 136 hours a month. I still think that is alot of hours for 2.2. When I told him I thought the hours were long he agreed, but said the working atmosphere was relaxed. I think I prefer to relax at home, or at least get paid for it.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone out there has first hand experience with them.

CT

[Derrek]

I've always heard it's a lot of work. That's all I've ever seen. Never heard anything else bad on here.

Do a search and see what you come up with.

[johnriley007]

it depends on the school. i worked at a decent place for 6 weeks filling in for a teacher. it was laxed and not too bad...BUT I NEVER WORKED THE SPLIT!!!!! my friend said it was hell. at least 3 straight months on 6-10, 6-10, plus two saturdays a month. there is no way that is worth 2.2. check out Pagoda or Jungchul if you want to teach adults.

[igotthisguitar]

[Derrek]

They are constantly advertising job openings, which is always suspect, in my book.

[inthewild]

Any more opinions or first-hand knowledge of English Channel?

[juan_cubero]

English Channel is not financially doing so well these days. As of this reply, the company still owes money to some of their Korean staff. They will always pay their Korean and Native tutors, as they are afraid that these tutors would leave for another school.

My friend who just recently quit after being the right hand woman, said, most teachers are hoping that student enrollment increases. When they first started the company two years ago their goal was to compete and eventually surpass Direct English as the leading one-on-one commercial school. However, they haven't and are just trying to financially stay afloat.

If you live in Seoul, then you are going to make more money for Direct English than you would for English Channel. At both schools you will have to work the split-shift for the first three months. The teachers at English Channel take turns working the block-shift, while teachers at Direct English wait for other teachers to finish their contract. I think that at both schools you will have the option to continue working on the split-shift for more pay.

I won't even go into why I wouldn't take this job. But, if you really need to work, then you can take the risk and maybe things might improve at English Channel.

[hojucandy]

i work for english channel in busan... what can i say... avoid this company! the work is very easy, but it is dead boring and the hours are ridiculous. the teaching materials very poorly written - it gets difficult to teach his rubbish...

[tomwaits]

Hey hojucandy I worked there..Early 2003 but we couldn't negotiate an e-2 visa so I had to move on...It was good at that time---no splits it was like 12-8 or so. Suited me. Splits would make it hell though. Salary and flat were pretty good -and so was the free lunch in the basement.

But as someone said the books are hideous and boring. They are a knock-off of Direct English and you must slavishly follow them. I also hate phonics.

Hey hoju---ask them about the guy with glasses who worked there when they just opened. The manager was an OK guy I thought...And the office was good---in fact that's where I registered here. At that time they were pushing it on the high school kids although in Seoul I think it's mostly business types. Can't remember too much about the 'hood. It was close to the subway line anyway.

[baldrick]

Its shortest point between Dover and Calais is only about 15 miles.
Its mean yearly temprature is a ball shrinking 6 degrees. Westerly winds are most prevalant in the channel.
There is a tunnel under it connecting England to France. At around the same time as the tunnel opened there was the biggest party mainland Europe had ever seen, held mainly by people from Eastern Europe, Western and South Asia and North Africa, supplemented by drug, alcohol, tabacco and people smugglers.
Hope this helps.

[tomwaits]

Baldrick---He's looking for a job at the English CHUNNEL Acadamy---not channel. Pull yourelf together mate.

[hojucandy]

[igotthisguitar]